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David W

You’d have to be of a particularly warped disposition – perhaps with a phobia of grass or a deep-rooted hatred of trees – to dislike Stanley Park. In many ways, it sums up everything that Vancouver is about; culture, wholesome outdoor enjoyment, room to breathe and a perhaps delusional determination to ignore the weather.

The second Cirque du Soleil of the week, this was never going to live up to the astonishing majesty of O. But Zumanity is more erotic than aquatic - lashings of sauce, a more humorous outlook and plenty that grandma wouldn't approve of make it distinctive and fun for a naughty 10pm treat.

The not-for-kids content shouldn't distract too long from the content. After all, Zumanity shows what Cirque du Soleil does best - astonishing acrobatics and supreme showmanship. The only difference this time is that it shows rather a lot more, too...

Out to the south-west of Canberra in the Tidbinbilla area is the Australian capital’s contribution to space science. A series of massive dishes sit outside the main complex building, monitoring what’s going on in numerous space missions.
The complex is owned by NASA but run by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. It’s one of just three such hubs in the NASA network – the others are in Goldstone, California and Madrid. It opened in 1965, with the aim of supporting the Apollo Space programme, and has been communicating with satellites, probes and manned space missions ever since.
Inside, there’s a free museum of sorts that goes into the history of space exploration and the role that the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex has played in it. On show are rovers that have investigated the surface of Mars, images sent from distant probes, space suits and the freeze-dried food that astronauts use.

At times, the 4x4 feels like we’re teetering at a 45 degree angle, sliding down the sand banks and oversteering out of control. It is, of course, all part of the ride. The car kicks up outrageous amounts of sand as we plough through, spraying the (mercifully closed) windows as if they’re enduring a blackout.The second major stop of our day trip is Wadi Bin Khalid – one of the country’s most famous beauty spots. Once there, we walk along a traditional Omani water system; a man-made channel that snakes gradually downhill from its underground source in the mountains. It’s a wonderful spot, and when the sun gets too hot, you can dive into the surprisingly deep gorge for a swim. It’s what the great outdoors should be about.
Note from Viator: This review is from David Whitley, who wrote a detailed article on his trip to Oman over on the Viator blog.